Clinical Pastoral Education Courses

We are not offering CPE courses at this time.

The College affirms the value of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) as part of the process of preparation for ministry and endorses its availability to students as a general elective or as a means of partial fulfillment of supervised ministry requirements.

Because of the special nature of CPE, students at Queen's wishing to participate in such a program for academic credit must complete a special admission application process for each unit they wish to take. Admission to courses is subject to the availability of the course and to the selection procedures of each course's program setting.

CPE is an in-service, action-reflection, learn-by-doing method of education. Students are placed in situations where they exercise ministry to persons within an institution. Guided by their supervisor, they systematically reflect on their experience and engage with their peers in a creative process of study and dialogue that challenges them to integrate knowledge and insights from theology and human sciences with their understanding and practice of ministry. While each course has a general structure, the specific educational process is highly individualized as participants are assessed in their own progress toward professional development and in personal growth.

The major elements in CPE are:

Practice of Ministry especially, though not exclusively, in pastoral care situations. The concern is for the development of effectiveness for total ministry.

Supervision of Ministry individually and in small peer groups.

Theory Seminars aimed at developing adequate theological and theoretical bases for understanding and practising ministry with particular attention to the specific form of ministry in which the student is engaged.

Personal Growth focusing on the development of effective interpersonal skills.

Courses are offered on a full and part-time basis. Full-time courses consist of 12 consecutive weeks. Part-time courses are offered by means of an extended program, two days per week for eight months. All courses are offered with academic credit but may be taken also as continuing education by those not seeking academic credit. All courses are offered towards certification with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) but are open also to those not seeking such certification. All students will be registered with CASC.

Not all courses are offered each year. Those to be offered are determined by student demand and staff availability.

THEO-655 (12) Clinical Pastoral Education A

A first basic unit of Supervised Pastoral Education, approved by the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC). Learning is derived from the supervised practice of spiritual and religious care in a variety of multifaith settings. Prerequisite: Special registration required.

THEO-656 (12) Clinical Pastoral Education II

A second basic unit of SPE conducted in a clinical setting as described for THEO-655. Prerequisite: Special registration required.

THEO-657 (12) Clinical Pastoral Education III

A third basic unit of SPE conducted in a clinical setting as described for THEO-655. Prerequisite: Special registration required.

THEO-685 (12) Clinical Pastoral Education B

The second basic unit of Supervised Pastoral Education. Learning is derived from the supervised practice of spiritual and religious care in a variety of multifaith settings. Prerequisite: Special registration is required.

THEO-855 (12) Advanced Clinical Pastoral Education I

A first advanced unit of training focusing upon the skills in ministry required of a specialist in pastoral care. Emphasis continues to be placed on the total development of participants for ministry while they develop an ability to conceptualize and articulate a practical theology of human functioning. Prerequisite: THEO-655, 656 or their equivalents. Special registration required.

THEO-856 (12) Advanced Clinical Pastoral Education II

A second advanced unit continuing the process of THEO-855, with theoretical emphasis focusing on the development of a working theology of pastoral care. Prerequisite: Special registration required.

THEO-857 (12) Advanced Clinical Pastoral Education III

A third advanced unit of training as described for THEO-855 and 856. Prerequisite: Special registration required.

THEO-858 (12) Training for Supervision in Clinical Pastoral Education

Developing the theory and skills of an educator/supervisor in SPE. Participants normally have been admitted to training as a Provisional Teaching Supervisor by CASC. Prerequisite: Special registration required.

THEO-859 (12) Exercising Supervision in Clinical Pastoral Education

Opportunity for participants to consolidate personal and professional development by organizing and supervising a basic unit of SPE. Successful completion of this unit may qualify the participant for certification review as an Associate Teaching Supervisor with CASC. Prerequisite: Special registration required.